This past year I achieved some goals I set in January of 2016. I never would have done it if I had not taken Michael Hyatt’s Best Year Ever course. My wife, Tammy, and I started our year going through this course both as individuals and as a couple. It was a new way of setting goals for us. I had set goals before and never achieved them in the way I would have wanted. But Michael Hyatt taught me a new way and changed everything I ever knew about goals.

I’ve still got some learning to do. That’s why I’m going to take the course again at the beginning of 2017. I achieved some significant goals in 2016. Now I want to continue on with some of those, and set brand new ones in the new year. In fact, the picture above shows one I know I’m going to set: Going to Italy.

Tammy achieved a significant goal of her own. She is quitting her teaching job because she started her own business. This is a major, significant goal in anyone’s life. But Tammy never dreamed she’d be able to do something like this.

Here are some of the goals I set for myself at the beginning of 2016:

• Pay off all credit card debt (We did it!)
• Grow my email list to 1000 subscribers (I started the year with 0 subscribers and now I have nearly 200; it isn’t 1000, but it’s far more than I started out with)
• Bike four times a week (I did it!)
• Publish and release my new book (I did it!)

To be completely transparent, there were a number of other goals that I didn’t achieve. However, setting goals kept them in the front of my mind. Some of them had to do with my health and fitness. Others had to do with creating a podcast and various things surrounding my creative pursuits. Still others had to do with my ministry at Ascension Lutheran Church. They have not yet been achieved, but they are being carried over to 2017 and, with Michael’s help, I fully expect to achieve them this coming year.

Tomorrow (Thursday, December 15th, 2016) is the LAST DAY you can register for Michael Hyatt’s goal-setting course: Click here to check it out. 2017 is right around the corner, and you have the chance to hit the “refresh” button and get a running start on the new year.

Michael is going to make it super-simple for you. But you have to take the first step. And Thursday, December 15th, 2016, is the last day you can! Register now by clicking here. It’s a small investment for the huge change you will see in 2017. The course will give you guidance, direction, and a plan. I wouldn’t promote it if I didn’t believe in it completely, and if I didn’t use it myself.

I want you to have your best year ever. This course and a new way of setting goals comes with an unconditional money back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.

P.S. As a bonus, if you purchase this course using any of the course links in this post, I will send you:

• A free copy of my book, Fully and Creatively Alive
• My ebook, Creative Help for Uncreative People: A Boatload of Ideas to Get Yourself Off the Creative Dime
•  AND my PDF: 14 Ways to a More Creative Life

That’s a $39 value, completely free.

Remember: You only have until Thursday, December 15th, 2016 to get the course. After that enrollment is closed until late next year. Act now.

What’s your number one goal for 2016?

I guess you could say that as a pastor I’m somewhat of an insider when it comes to Christmas. 😉 My profession calls me to guide people through the season. I see the season from the pulpit. And I also see it from the point of view of my family. I see it in the malls. And I also see it shining through the Scriptures.

So here’s the “insider’s” guide to Christmas:

1.  Prepare well. Don’t let the Day sneak up on you. You’ve still got enough time to get presents, bake, and clean. One thing that’s made our Christmas shopping easier is that we get our kids and their spouses: “Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read.” It helps make our preparations easier. Too many people let the stress of the season sneak up on them.
2. Do something special. Make the time to take in a holiday concert, light display, or Christmas movie. The season goes so quickly. It slips away. Make sure that you slow it down just…a…bit by doing a few things that happen only at this time of the year.
3. Serve someone else. People need our help all throughout the year. But this is truly the “giving” season. Shovel snow for a neighbor. Give food to the local food bank. Sing carols at a nursing home.
4. Go to church. If you haven’t been for a while. Go on Christmas Eve. There are plenty of people who want to welcome you. They want to share with you the most important gift in this life: Love and forgiveness coming into the world in the form of the Son of God lying in a manger. No one will judge you. You won’t be conspicuous. You’ll be amongst people just like you: some who go to church every Sunday and some who only go on that one night. But they’re just like you. They need fellowship, community, and forgiveness. People spend inordinate amounts of time to do what they can to make you feel welcome on Christmas Eve. Give it a try. (And if you go every Christmas Eve, keep going!)
5. Pay attention to the story. When you go to church, pay attention to the little details of the story. Take it at face value. Trust and believe that it really happened. Listen to it with fresh ears. In fact, try reading the story from Luke 2 before you open Christmas presents. See if it puts a new perspective on everything that happens after you read it.

If you had to create a guide for Christmas what would you include?

Don’t you just love the language that comes out at this time of year? It’s different from the kind of language we can get away with at other times of the year. Just listen to the Christmas carols. Or watch what they say on the seasonal TV shows.

If you listen carefully you’ll hear language like:

• “When half-spent was the night”
• “God rest ye merry gentlemen”
• “And idol forms shall perish,
  And error shall decay,
  And Christ shall wield His scepter,
  Our Lord and God for aye.”
• “O Tannenbaum”
• “Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care”
• “Pray, wither sailed those ships all three”
• “We three kings of Orient are
  Bearing gifts we traverse afar
  Field and fountain, moor and mountain
  Following yonder star”

Do you notice all the “thees” and “thous” and “ye” and “shall”? I especially love phrases like “half-spent” was the night. When my wife and I got married we were sure that the invitation read that our marriage ceremony was going to be at “half after three” in the afternoon.

Since I’m a writer I guess I just appreciate old fashioned language like this. It seems so poetic. There’s a formality to it that we don’t use at other times of the year or in other places throughout the year. It’s almost melodic.

And speaking of melodies, the songs we hear and sing at Christmastime have a certain sense of both haunting and healing. Songs like “Christmas Waltz” and “In the Bleak Mid Winter” send feelings down into the deepest depths of my soul.

But here’s the thing. All that old time language and those melodies that we only hear once a year remind me of a connection. They remind me that the songs we sing, the language we use, and the message that we hear are connecting us to places and people of times past. They sang these songs long ago, folks. Through language and music we are connected to them.

More than that, this whole idea of language and music makes Christmas timeless for me. It reminds me that our Savior came into space and time in what we consider ancient days. But we speak about it and sing about it today. It’s a reminder that one day perhaps these days will be considered ancient days. Those who come after us will be connected through our language and music, as well.

And there will also come a day when Bethlehem’s Child will come again. He will bring time and space together so that people of every tribe, and race, and nation, and language will stand before His throne.

That is, in the end, why He came the first time. So that we can look forward to the second time without fear. But in the mean time we sing and we say things that connect us to those who have gone before us and those yet to come.

So I sing to you:

It’s that time of year
When the world falls in love
Every song you hear seems to say
“Merry Christmas
May your new year’s dreams come true”
And this song of mine
In three quarter time
Wishes you and yours
The same thing, too

What do you love about the language of the season?

Imagine a year from now. You’re looking back on your year thinking to yourself: “What a year I’ve had! That was my best year ever!”

Goals in all areas of your life were getting ticked off your list. Health goals. Financial goals. Relationship goals. Goals you’d been trying to accomplish for years. Finally behind you.

And it all started with this: Michael Hyatt’s Best Year Ever Program. 

My wife, Tammy, and I decided to take the plunge at the beginning of 2016. We went through Michael Hyatt’s program and accomplished goals we had only dreamed of. Some of the goals we accomplished were very personal. But others were things that were very public:

• I completed, published, and sold my first book: Fully and Creatively Alive.
• Tammy accomplished her goal of quitting her full-time teaching job and starting a business of her own called Perfectly Pillō.

If you had asked us whether we could do these things before we did Best Year Ever we would have doubted you. But Michael Hyatt’s video program is so easy to follow, intentional, and deliberate. It gives you step by step processes. The program even includes a workbook where you write everything down. Studies have shown that writing goals down helps you to better accomplish them.

There’s just a little bit of a catch. Enrollment for the program is only open for a very short period of time. After that, Michael closes it down to focus on supporting the new class of people going through the program.

If you know deep down that you’re capable of more but have felt stuck not knowing how to experience the kind of breakthrough you deserve, then click on this link.

P.S. You can’t just “hope” that 2017 will be your best year ever. You need a roadmap. Click here to see how: 2017 Best Year Ever

The other night I was reminded that the holidays aren’t happy for everyone. I spoke at a gathering of people who lost loved ones this past year. Imagine what it’s like to stand in front of a group of people like that and bring a message of hope and joy. You really have to put yourself in the place of the people who have faced life’s greatest challenge.

There were tears. Hugs were given and received. Small talk centered around caregiving, or what those following days were like, or how to get through this particular season. I was amazed at how most of the people in that group are carrying on. They are doing their best to push through and make the best of a radically changed life.

It reminded me (as if I needed reminding once again) of the many things in my life that bring happiness. I can vaguely remember times as a very young child when the holidays weren’t the happiest for me. It was nothing more than my own internal thoughts and struggles, probably born out of being a bit too much of an over-thinker. But there were a couple of Christmases that I had to work hard to be really happy.

Thankfully I outgrew that. But it gives me sympathy for those who need just a little bit more joy this time of year. I feel badly for those who are less than happy right now. So the following list is an attempt for all of us to find more happiness during these days. I hope this list doesn’t seem trite in the face of major trouble, trial, or depression. I see it as, perhaps, one small step toward a few more smiles, a couple of more laughs, and just a little more happiness for anyone who reads it:

• The twinkling lights on the Christmas tree
• Mail that’s more than bills or junk
• An Amazon package on the front porch
• Red and green M&M’s
• Cookies that are made only at this time of year
• A dinner party
• Jib Jab videos
• Seasonal foods at the grocery store
• Candlelight services
• Your favorite crèche on the mantle
• Purchasing the perfect gift
• Candy Cane Lane (or some sort of light display)
• Family coming from out-of-town
• Pulling out the Christmas books and reading them to the kids
• That one special ornament
• A full food bank for those who really need it
• Wish lists
• Ranger Station candles that smell like balsam fir
• A new arrangement of an old carol
• The wonder in the eyes of a child

I hope this list helps make your holidays a little more happy.

What would you add to it?

If you’ve ever struggled to hit any of your goals, like I have, Michael Hyatt can help you…

Or if you have BIG plans for this year and need every possible advantage…

Make sure you reserve a spot for this  free presentation that’s going to fill up super fast (which is why you need to reserve your spot).

New York Times bestselling author Michael Hyatt is going to show you, step-by-step, how to use goal-setting to take control of your days and turn them into the life you really want.

I attended his webinar last year and it led me into fulfilling some of my most difficult goals in 2016.

You’ll hear Michael Hyatt share things like:

• The one single strategy that will instantly make you 42% more likely to accomplish your goals — it’s shocking how many people miss it
• How to “quit-proof” your goals and ensure 2017 is the year you finally cross “that big one” off your list (you know which one I’m talking about!)
• Why detailed action plans work against you and an alternate strategy that will take a huge weight off your shoulders
• The secret to sustaining your initial momentum and keep making progress toward your goals no matter what life throws at you
• The common and seemingly positive goal-setting strategy that is likely sabotaging your success (and what to do instead) and so much more!

There are several different times to accommodate your schedule. See what works for you by clicking here.

By the end of the presentation, you’ll be crystal clear about how you can have your best year ever in 2017.

Enjoy!

P.S. All registrants will get a special workbook designed specifically for this presentation. Here’s the link to sign up.

I don’t need to tell you we live in a broken world. But it’s not all bad. There are plenty of good things happening all around us. All we have to do is open our eyes. The holiday season certainly brings it out. But if you pay attention, you can see people making the world a better place all throughout the year. I’ve highlighted some of them on my blog here and here and here.

Tonight my wife was speaking on the phone to her parents. She discovered something about them she had never known before. Tammy’s parents live in a high rise condo building in beautiful downtown Peoria, Illinois. What she didn’t know until today is that they have taken it upon themselves, a couple of times a week, to pick up garbage in the streets around their building.

This eighty-five-year-old couple decided to turn their regular walks into something productive. They purchased a “picker.” They say you’d be amazed at how easily that thing picks stuff up. “You can pick up a dime with it.” When the rubber ends of the pickers wear out, you can order more online.

They have a specific route. They see some of the same people. He takes the picker. She takes the bag. Some people acknowledge them. Others don’t. But it’s always a good walk. And it always ends up that the streets and sidewalks in downtown Peoria are nicer than they found them.

One day the doorman in their building let them in and said: “The world is a better place because of you.” 

And it is.

There is no time like the present, and no better time of the year than now, to make the world a better place:

• What can you do today to make the world a better place?
• When no one is looking, what will you do to help someone?
• What less-than-desirable place are you willing to go to bring some light and love?
• Whom can you help today with a word of comfort or a gift of grace?
• Where is the place someone would least expect to find you helping out?

Go ahead and do it. Today.

Make the world a better place.

When have you seen someone doing just that?

If life were a game, what would your score be? I just took Michael Hyatt’s LifeScore ™ Assessment and it was a huge revelation for me. It gave me a score that was incredibly enlightening. The results of the assessment revealed to me that I’m at the point in my life where I ought to dream big and take some big leaps.

What about you? Even if you aren’t competitive, how would you rank each area of your life? Would you give yourself a good score with your health? What about your finances or relationships?

You, too, can measure yourself in the areas that matter most–so that you can improve. You, too, can get an overall score for your life, take it to the next level, and create the life you want.

All you have to do is click on this link and it will take you right to the assessment. 

New York Times best-selling author Michael Hyatt has developed this tool. It makes this whole process super easy–and it’s free! Like many assessments, this one is self-administered. It provides you with the opportunity to rate yourself in each of life’s major domains.

You read a series of statements that describe specific situations. Then you pick the one that most closely aligns with where you perceive yourself to be. Finally, you refine a bit based on your unique situation. The tool then calculates your score in each domain, adds them together, and gives you an overall LifeScore.™

The whole process takes less than ten minutes. It will give you the clarity you need to create the life you want. Once you discover your LifeScore,™ you can quickly see opportunities for growth and what is working well. If you take it quarterly, you have a built-in way to measure your growth over time and stay motivated toward what matters most to you!

Best of all, the LifeScore™ Assessment is FREE–but only for a limited time. So go take the assessment today.

Enjoy!

P.S. The tool (that Michael makes available for free) calculates everything for you. You just read the descriptions, pick the one that’s most accurate for you in each domain and then you’ll have your overall score. It’s fast and easy. But you’ll come away with tremendous clarity when you’re finished.

As of today there are twenty-seven days until Christmas. Sure, that means you only have about twenty-six of those days to go shopping. But there’s so much more to this season than just shopping. For most of us, the next few weeks will be a whirlwind of activity. It’s going to fly by. So let’s be intentional about taking advantage of these golden days.

Here are ten simple things to do before Christmas:

1. Find a brand new Christmas song and put it on repeat. Here’s one for you to try. (Full Disclaimer: It’s a Christmas song by our son’s musical project, MY RED + BLUE.)
2. Go to church. It’s OK if you haven’t been for a while. You will be welcome. And now, more than ever, we all need that kind of faith and stability in our lives.
3. Experiment with a smile. When you find yourself shopping (and you will at some point this season), do a little experiment. It’s an experiment that my wife and her dad carried out when she was small. Intentionally smile at people and see if they smile back. Spread a little cheer.
4. Tip your server well. The quickest and easiest way to get money to people who really need it is by tipping well. Many servers work long hours, holidays, and at times when many of us are sleeping. Tip at least 20% during this holiday season.
5. Watch a classic Christmas special. My favorite is “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Here’s a schedule for you to find exactly what you’re looking for.
6. Surprise a neighbor. How about taking over a plate of Christmas cookies? Another idea is to leave a simple, inexpensive small gift on their doorstep. If you live where it snows, shovel their sidewalk. It you live where it doesn’t, power wash their driveway.
7. Start an ornament collection. For years, my wife and I have been giving our children a new Christmas ornament every year. Now that they are both married, they each have a collection of their own ornaments to decorate their trees. The ornaments were often from a vacation or a significant event during the year. Why not start a collection for yourself?
8. Throw a party. It doesn’t even have to be anything big. Have a few friends over for a special dinner. Put on a game night. Throw a party where everyone brings a small gift, each person draws a number, and when your number is selected you can either pick a wrapped gift, or steal one that’s already been opened. Watch the laughter ensue!
9. Volunteer for, or donate to, a worthy cause. The need is always great, but it seems food banks, homeless shelters, and thrift shops are especially busy at this time of the year. They will appreciate your help.
10. Begin planning for 2017. Too many people enter the new year without a plan. Then they flounder. Soon they wonder where all the time went and are disappointed that they didn’t complete the many things they wanted to. It’s possible to prevent this. Get a free PDF where 30 thought leaders share how they start each year. Simply click here. It’s a wonderful resource.

What’s a simple thing you would suggest we should do before Christmas?

Tomorrow we will put up the Christmas tree at our church. We gather together with a few faithful members and put it together, piece by piece, ornament by ornament. Thankfully it’s a pre-lighted tree. At least we don’t have to go through that struggle. The tree is a huge visible reminder that the church’s hopeful season of Advent is upon us. It’s my favorite time of the year.

I don’t take that lightly, or say it without a great deal of thoughtfulness. Other times of the year are great. But the month of December, and Advent, soar above the others for five wonderful reasons. Each of them can be summed up in one word.

1. Anticipation. The church’s season of Advent is all about anticipation, looking forward, waiting for the ultimate to come to fruition. From a spiritual standpoint, it’s looking forward to the coming of Christ at Christmas; but also to the ultimate and final arrival of Jesus when He comes again to deliver His people fully and finally. But it’s also a season of human anticipation as we look forward to family, friends, and the opportunity to show our love for people by exchanging gifts on that most special of days.
2. Music. Some of my favorite hymns of the entire church year are Advent hymns: Prepare the Royal Highway, On Jordan’s Band the Baptist’s Cry, and Rejoice, Rejoice Believers and Let Your Lights Appear. I’d put these hymns up against most any from any other season of the church year. More than that, we begin to hear Christmas music on the radio and in the stores, many of which I enjoy (though I’d be happy if a few of them would go away forever…I’m talking to YOU All I want for Christmas is You).
3. Hopefulness. Advent means “arrival.” The kind of hope I have as a Christian is a certain hope. It’s an expectation. It’s not the kind of hope American’s think about when they say: “I hope such and such will happen.” It means I firmly know and believe it’s going to happen. Just as certain as Jesus came to Bethlehem’s manger, He will come again to restore me and all things. I have a most certain hope that this will happen.
4. Thoughtfulness. It seems to me that in these weeks before Christmas, this Advent time of year, people are much more mindful and thoughtful toward others. Food banks fill up. Blood banks receive far more donations. People are more pleasant and complimentary. Thoughtfulness is much more the order of the day, it seems, than late February or the dog days of summer.
5. Ambiance. Things look more special at this time of the year. Not only is the Christmas tree up at church. People start putting lights up on their homes. Restaurants and stores decorate. Even people seem to dress up more during this season. The ambiance almost all around us is pleasant and festive.

I’d encourage you to look and listen the next few weeks. See if you find yourself with more anticipation and hope. Listen for the sounds of the season and receive gratefully the thoughtfulness of others. Pay attention to the festive ambiance and decorations.

What do you like about this time of year?